Lighting

edited by Alexa Yablonski and Cecilia Fabiani -- Interior Design, 8/1/2003 12:00:00 AM

The big O

A central aperture animates the silk light fixtures in Orchestra, Ayala Serfaty's latest collection for Aqua Creations. "It's about making the silk, form, light, and color work together," says the Israeli designer, who compares the pieces' look to "singers with their mouths open." Despite the artistic derivation of Orchestra's name, however, visual inspiration came from a source much more natural—or supernatural: Yosemite National Park's gray granite. (Legend has it that spirits flow through holes in the rocks.) Not content with those two images, Serfaty also points out that the lamps' aesthetic "moves closer to a Japanese style." Comparisons aside, Orchestra embraces a diverse new palette, including sophisticated smoke and grass as well as bright gold and flame. 200 Lexington Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10016; 212-219-9922; aquagallery.com. circle 356

Crystal light

With the onset of halogen spots and sleek floor lamps in the minimalist 1990's—think Alberto Meda and Paolo Rizzatto's Lola—crystal chandeliers looked like a thing of the past. Until Lolli e Memmoli gave old-world a new look.

As with so many production lines, this lighting concept was born when Ivan Lolli and Mario Memmoli, both trained architects, were unable to find a sufficiently modern crystal chandelier for a client's apartment. The custom piece they designed became the basis for a small collection of fixtures, exhibited at Milan's Salone Internazionale del Mobile. "We'd go to flea markets to purchase vintage chandeliers, disassemble them, and reuse the drops," says Lolli.

Today, the collection features four styles. Vladimiro drips with crystal strands from 20 to 50 inches long. Square Ugolino glitters with octagonal crystals. Circular or square Phebo channels Danish designer Verner Panton. Caifa resembles a waterfall.

What makes each lamp unique is not just intelligent reinterpretation but also composition: a featherweight steel suspension cable, a delicate chrome-plated steel armature, and hand-assembled crystals in various shapes and 52 transparent colors. (Manufacturers in the Veneto region of Italy use potassium oxide, rather than lead, for greater transparency.)

Lolli e Memmoli central is a 1930's zipper factory with a resin-finished red concrete floor polished to reflect the chandeliers to best advantage. To observe the duo's work in action, visit ships in the Royal Olympia Cruises line or showrooms for Escada. Next to see the light? Neiman Marcus in Miramar, Florida. 7 Via Vivarini, 20141 Milan, Italy; 39-02-89-50-2342; lollimemmoli.it. circle 357

Flos

An industrial look characterizes Antonio Citterio's Kelvin lamps. Of the three available styles, one is a floor lamp; two are table lamps, adjustable and not. All are die-cast aluminum, with a swiveling head for direct light. 200 McKay Road, Huntington Station, NY 11746; 631-549-2746; flos.net. circle 358

Santa & Cole

The leaves of the agave plant inspired Antoni Arola's Leonardo hanging lamp, composed of maple strips. They're attached to the square aluminum cage that surrounds the light source. Ameico, 53 Bank Street, New Milford, CT 06776; 888-350-8765; santacole.com. circle 359

Foscarini

Designed by Patricia Urquiola and Eliana Gerotto, Bague is a table lamp with a metallic mesh base plunged into silicon resin, for both support and shade. The fixture's upper diffuser is acrylic. The body comes in two sizes and three colors: white, light gray, and black. North American Light Spectrum, 15 Old Sherman Turnpike, Danbury, CT 06810; 203-791-0348; foscarini.com. circle 360

FontanaArte

For a very James Bond table or floor lamp, try Voon Wong's latest. In stainless steel or painted nickel, Loop features a rotating top that allows more or less light to escape. The diameter is 20 inches. 8807 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048; 310-247-9933; fontanaarte.com. circle 361

Artemide

Blown-glass spheres, thermoplastic-resin stems, and die-cast metal-alloy bases compose the Castore table, floor, and suspension lamps by Michele De Lucchi. Each model sheds a pleasingly ambient light. 1980 New Highway, Farmingdale, NY 11735; 631-694-9292; artemide.com. circle 362

Antonangeli

Theo and Silvia Sogni fused oriental and Abba influences in Mamamia. The pendant comprises nine rings in graduating diameters, the largest being 25 inches. Eurolite USA, 1703 Rose Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712; 732-695-2750; antonangeli.com. circle 363

Tobias Grau

As its name indicates, George Mobile is portable. It's also a floor lamp in oak, aluminum, and glass, with a hand grip featuring an integrated dimmer. Adjustable from 40 to 50 inches high. 35B Siemenstrasse, 25462 Rellingen, Germany; 49-41-013700; tobias-grau.com. circle 364

Tronconi

For direct and indirect light mixed with retro appeal, there's Toric by Patrick Norguet. The lamp comes in black-and-white or orange-and-white paint. 5/7 Via Bernini, 20094 Milan, Italy; 39-02-45-86-7089; tronconi.com. circle 367

Luceplan

A table called Zio (Italian for uncle) multifunctions as discreet lighting—a fluorescent lamp hides underneath. The Sebastian Bergne design, made of UV-resistant polycarbonate, measures 14 inches wide by 11 inches deep by 8 inches high. 315 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013; 212-989-6265; luceplan.com. circle 366

Ingo Maurer

"High technology combined with pure aesthetics" is how this German designer describes Lüster. The limited editions in imprinted molded glass are embedded with 287 white LEDs, which emit light on both sides. 89 Grand Street, New York, NY 10013; 212-965-8817; ingo-maurer.com. circle 365

Leucos

Paolo Nava and Fabio Casiraghi's Medusa lamp is sure to catch your eye—gaze freely, without fear of petrifaction. This unusual beauty combines handblown smoked glass, a brushed-nickel base, and phosphorescent tubes. 11 Mayfield Avenue, Edison, NJ 08818; 732-225-0010; leucos.com. circle 368

Lampworks

Expertly swirled colors—as well as a delicious shape and scale—make these handblown glass pendants the ultimate eye candy. 231 East 58th Street, New York, NY 10022; 888-526-7967. circle 372

CL Sterling & Son

This addition to Peter Carlson's Archer series combines style and substance. The chandelier features stylized etched-glass diffusers and a metal armature, offered in brushed nickel, architectural bronze, soft-polished brass, and copper finishes. Available with four, six, or eight arms. 162 Joshuatown Road, Lyme, CT 06371; 860-434-3744; clsterling.com. circle 369

Lumid

Sinuous and showy, Anna-Mae exudes serious sex appeal, but Jordan Mozer and Associates actually intended the floor lamp to resemble a willow tree, which symbolizes the female life force. Jordan Mozer originally designed the piece for a Japanese restaurant at the Beau Rivage resort and casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. 7940 Jean-Brillon Street, Montreal, Quebec H8N 2L5, Canada; 888-865-8643; lumid.com. circle 371

Giorgetti

Sick of cartoonish, overly futuristic furnishings? We've discovered a lamp that points ahead without summoning the Jetsons. With three rings measuring an impressive 39 inches in diameter, Planet glows with interplanetary appeal. Glenpointe Centre East, 300 F.W. Burr Boulevard, Teaneck, NJ 07666; 201-836-9100; giorgetti-spa.com. circle 370

Holly Hunt

Old meets new in Studio H's St. Honoré collection. To produce the exquisitely executed pieces, Holly Hunt teamed up with the venerable craftsmen at Charles, the Paris company responsible for much of Versaille's lighting restoration. The timeless proportions of the sterling-silver Facet table lamp are based on an antique in Hunt's own apartment. 801 West Adams Street, Chicago, IL 60607; 312-329-5999; hollyhunt.com. circle 373

Baldinger Architectural Lighting

The fixtures in Liat Poysner's collection are more dramatic than a Broadway spotlight. The true star is Spiral, with its 24 inches of cascading stainless steel. All pieces in the line feature a hand-folded sheet-metal shade, which eliminates the need for rivets, screws, welding, or soldering. 19-02 Steinway Street, Astoria, NY 11105; 718-204-5700; baldinger.com. circle 374

Em Collaborative Studio

We like the moody glow of Quad. And its fresh colors, too. The table lamps in resin and brushed stainless steel come in heights of 14 and 20 inches. 8262 Fountain Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046; 323-650-2079; emcollection.com. circle 375

Clodagh Collection

Dutch designer Kasper Larsen's lighting line celebrates the graceful combination of linen, American walnut, and stainless steel. This charmingly squat table lamp is one of four designs in the collection. 670 Broadway, New York, NY 10012; 212-780-5300. circle 378

McEwen Lighting Studio

There's no better definition of "industrial chic" than the tough-looking corrugated-copper of MLS Editions's Gear. But don't include the cable-suspended fixture's picture in Webster's yet. Gear's interior is finished in surprisingly refined kiln-formed opal glass. 1420 62nd Street, Emeryville, CA 94608; 510-547-7791; mcewenlighting.com. circle 376

American Glass Light Company

The breadth, volume, and quality of Sandy Littman's latest designs are astonishing. For 2003, she introduced more than 100 styles, almost all of them an architect's dream: simple, streamlined, and finely finished. This Falcon Square sconce in satin aluminum and white sandblasted glass meets Americans With Disabilities Act approval. 979 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022; 212-371-4800; americanglasslight.com. circle 377